Originally published in 2017 - Updated for 2025
We recently wrote about 5 reasons to install a hair dryer at your facilities. If you have decided to go ahead and purchase one, the next step is to find out which is right for you. There is a lot to consider when buying a commercial hair dryer – and making the right choice now will undoubtedly save money in the long run and improve the user experience down the line.
What to consider
There are two main considerations when looking at commercial hair dryers, which then determines a lot of about the ideal hair dryer.
- Location – this determines water resistance, safety, mounting and styling
- User type and numbers – this determines motor power, energy consumption and accessories
1. Location
Where the hair dryer will be located helps determine a number of key factors. One of the most important is water ingress, but also the mounting type and power connection are two vital considerations.
Water resistance
Rooms with water in (such as a bathroom or washroom) have designated ‘zones’ according to BS 7671. The zone that the hair dryer will be situated determines the level of water ingress protection it must have. For example, while a bedroom blow dryer requires no water resistance a hair dryer located next to a wash bason, shower or bathtub (zone 2) needs to have an IP34 rating. You can see our range of bathroom hair dryers here.
Mounting
Commercial hair dryers have several mounting types:
- Hair dryers without any specific mounting. A hair dryer holder can always be bought separately or a hole be made on a shelf.
- Hair dryers with drawer mounting. Especially at hotels, limited spaced areas and of course households.
- Wall mounted hair dryers, depending on the layout, can be placed in the holder in a lateral or front position, requiring in the second case less wall space.
- Wall mounted hair dryer motor with hose and handset. They are generally the ones with best water resistance. We supply bathroom hair dryers that have an independent back plate that separates the electrical area from the hair dryer body, easing up installation.
Always make sure to consider the length of the cord or hose and the recommended installation height from the floor should be taken into account in order for the hair dryer to give enough space to move or face the mirror.
Power connection
There are two main ways to connect the hand-held hair dryers at public and commercial areas:
- Concealed connection
- Plug
As a middle-term alternative, a professional electrician can remove the plug of a hair dryer and connect it to the socket permanently; we have seen this ourselves in a hotel bedrooms.
In our opinion, hardwired dryers are safer and more vandal proof because visitors do not handle the plug and the units are less likely to be lost. However, if this is not possible, like any product with plugs, the cable can be locked to the wall through an anti-theft system.
2. User type and numbers
The amount that the hair dryer will be used on a daily basis will be one of the key considerations when looking at commercial hair dryers. It’s something that needs consideration – if you get an underpowered one it won’t last as long and could even become dangerous, if you get an overpowered one then you are potentially wasting money.
- Light duty hair dryers, like those at hotels, nursing homes, ship cabins or student accommodations, are expected to perform for up to 1,500 hours. They are meant for individual use.
- Medium traffic blow dryers, necessary in a bit more demanding yet small public places such as spas, private clubs or swimming pools, must provide service for between 1,500 and 2,000 hours.
- Heavy duty hair dryers, such as those at leisure centres, campsites or big swimming pools, are designed to last from 2,000 to 10,000 hours. They are normally labelled as blow dryers for public areas or collective use.
Please note that this guide does not refer to salon hair dryers.
Operation
With commercial hair dryers there are several ways to ‘turn them on’. The motor will start once the user has either picked up the handset, inserted a coin or interacted with a button. In general, blow dryers with hoses are found at high traffic locations, coin operated hair dryers are designed for changing rooms and units with button are common at hotels.
There is a lot of variety on hair dryer buttons. Traditional wall mounted blow dryers have a push button that operates the unit for a determined period after is pressed once. On the other side, hair dryers can have a latching switch that must be pressed or slid to turn on or off the airflow. Combining the best of both, several models have a press and hold button which needs to be constantly pushed so the motor only runs while the user needs it, customising the operation time and preventing accidents.
For added safety, the mount can also have an extra on/off button, which sends or blocks the power to the handset itself.
Drying performance
Commercial hair dryers are typically rated between 500 to 2,000 watts. It’s worth considering that high-wattage does not always mean better. Compared with high wattage, low wattage can save costs, favours the environment and the heating element at a warm temperature and at 15 cm distance from the hair helps drying without dehydrating as much as powerful cold air and does not create static electricity which contributes to visitors’ comfort.
Blow dryer heaters can be made of several materials. Iron is frequently used, but exotic materials such as porcelain ceramic and titanium are often found is more high-end hair dryers. These materials can help the hair dry faster and more evenly.
There is also Ionic technology to consider. Blow dryers with professional ion technology emit negative ions that aid to break down water, speeding up drying time while improving volume, hair hydration and softness. Tourmaline hair dryers are the upgraded version of ionic dryers. You can read more about ionic hair dryers in this post.
Frequently you’ll find units have several air speeds and a temperature dial, so that the user can choose the most appropriate. The cool shot button is one of the most appreciated features to give the final hair style shape. Instead of just buttons, digital hair dryers display these settings on a screen, where guests can check the exact air temperature. Hair dryers with various settings like this can cost more, but improve the user experience, which in turn reflects well on your business.
Other things to consider
Other safety features
We have already mentioned some security elements like button types and water ingress protection but there are other safety features available if they’re needed. Commercial hair dryers normally include a (sometimes adjustable) maximum operation time to prevent misuse or lapses, as well as a cut-off system to stop the motor temporarily in case overheat is detected. Also, blow dryers frequently come with locking systems.
Accessories
To save space, some bathroom hair dryers are equipped with a shaver socket. Likewise, instead of the typical coiled cords, certain models have flat cables to reduce tangles or special mechanisms like Valera’s rotocord, which allows users to spin the hair dryer 360º without messing up the cable.
Besides the fixing material for mounting, the box could include hair dryer accessories like a concentrator nozzle to focus the airflow onto a specific section of the hair and/or a diffuser for curly hair. A few blow dryers also have a removable filter in order to ease maintenance and extend the life of the unit.
Other aspects like the finish and handset weight would be important. For instance, whereas rubber protects the case from scratches or even breaking, it could get sticky with improper upkeep and end up attracting unwanted particles.
We can appreciate that this guide so far has laid out a lot of possibilities and makes the selection seem more complex. But once you know what the intended use is, and the features available, it should make selecting the perfect commercial hair dryer that much easier.
At Intelligent we aim at supplying an assorted range of energy efficient appliances and washroom fittings for commercial areas and public buildings. We’ve been industry leaders since we started 10 years ago. We can supply all the equipment needed for your washroom, along with a range of services, for rental, the installation and maintenance, so we really can be a one-stop-shop for all your washroom needs. To find out more just call us on 0114 3540047 or contact us here.
